Gugulethu police are investigating a murder case after a 17-year-old boy was shot dead yesterday (6 August) on his way to the hospital. The incident happened at NY78.
According to reports, the boy was with his grandmother when he was gunned down. He is reportedly a survivor of a previous shooting incident in New Crossroads “Tripple murder in Gugulethu: Police launch manhunt”, City Vision, 24 July).
A community leader who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of harassment described the area as a danger zone. She described the incident as devastating.
“The crime rate is high here. This young man was among the three people who were shot and killed three weeks ago, but he survived.
“I suspect when he was attacked this morning he was going to the clinic for treatment. Last Saturday 2 August, another man was stabbed to death at Section 7 in KTC in the same ward,” she explained.
The leader added that homes in and around New Crossroads were targeted by unknown people who branded them with the word “Boko” and this has led to a surge in crime.
“You wake up in the morning and you see your yard written ‘Boko’ and if you remove it, they come to you. They will kill you and your family,” she said, adding that Boko is a gang group that terrorises the area.
Provincial police spokesperson Wesley Twigg confirmed the shooting incident. He said the youth was on his way to a hospital with his grandmother when he was shot by an unknown suspect.
“The victim was taken to a nearby medical facility, where he was declared deceased. The suspect fled the scene and is yet to be arrested,” said Twigg.
